Image processing apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes an execution portion configured to execute a job, a providing portion configured to provide a Web page in response to a request, a determination portion configured to determine a time-out period, which is a period during which a response from the providing portion to the request is acceptable, depending on conditions of a job that is being executed by the execution portion and conditions of a job that waits to be executed by the execution portion, and a management portion configured to manage execution of a process by the execution portion and a process by the providing portion in such a manner that the former is executed before the latter.

This application is based on Japanese patent application No. 2010-244976filed on Nov. 1, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having aWeb page providing portion, a control method therefor, and so on.

2. Description of the Related Art

Image processing apparatuses having a variety of functions, such ascopying, network printing (PC printing), scanning, faxing, and documentserver, have recently attained widespread use. Such image processingapparatuses are called “multifunction devices”, “Multi-FunctionPeripherals (MFPs)”, or the like.

In recent years, some image processing apparatuses have been providedwith a Web server and a Web browser.

The Web server and the Web browser are configured to work incoordination with each other, and thereby, a user interface of the imageprocessing apparatus is provided. This enables flexible configuration ofthe user interface having different specifications on a client-by-clientbasis, and enables cost reduction in user interface development.

Incidentally, a Web browser is generally configured to display atime-out error for a case where the Web browser requests a Web page froma Web server, and no response is received from the Web server until apredetermined amount of time has elapsed since the Web browser made therequest. Hereinafter, the predetermined amount of time is called a“time-out period”.

When a preset time-out period is long, the Web browser has to wait for aresponse from the Web server for a long period of time. On the otherhand, when the preset time-out period is short, the Web browser displaystime-out errors many times. Accordingly, adjusting the length of atime-out period is important in the light of configuration of a gooduser interface.

In general, the time-out period is fixed at a predetermined length.However, a technique has been proposed in which the time-out period isadjusted depending on a load imposed on a Web server (see Document 1,i.e., Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-165658).

As described in Document 1, an adjustment is so made that the time-outperiod has a length of time depending on a load on the Web server.Thereby, time-out errors are probably less likely to be displayed, and aclient terminal does not have to wait for a response from the Web serverfor a long period of time.

However, if the method described in Document 1 is applied to an imageprocessing apparatus, the foregoing advantage is not always obtained.

To be specific, it is sometimes a case where, even when a Web serverprovided in the image processing apparatus is not so overloaded, a Webbrowser displays a time-out error because no response is received fromthe Web server by the end of the time-out period, and an appropriatetime-out period is not set in the image processing apparatus.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to solve the problems pointed outabove, and therefore, an object of an embodiment of the presentinvention is to provide an image processing apparatus which has a Webserver function and in which an appropriate time-out period is set for aWeb browser.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image processingapparatus includes an execution portion configured to execute a job, aproviding portion configured to provide a Web page in response to arequest from a request source, a determination portion configured todetermine a time-out period depending on conditions of a job that isbeing executed by the execution portion and conditions of a job thatwaits to be executed by the execution portion, the time-out period beinga period during which a response from the providing portion to therequest is acceptable, and a management portion configured to manageexecution of a process by the execution portion and a process by theproviding portion in such a manner that the process by the executionportion is executed before the process by the providing portion.

These and other characteristics and objects of the present inventionwill become more apparent by the following descriptions of preferredembodiments with reference to drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a networksystem.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration ofan image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configurationof an image processing apparatus.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams showing examples of a job list.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a time-out perioddetermination table.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting an example of processes carried out whena Web page is displayed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting an example of process steps carried outwhen the length of a time-out period is determined.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart depicting an example of processes carried out whena Web page is displayed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a networksystem SY.

Referring to FIG. 1, the network system SY is configured of an imageprocessing apparatus 1, a Web server machine 2, a user terminal 3, andnon-illustrated other information processing devices, all of which areconnected to a network 4.

The image processing apparatus 1 is an information processing devicethat integrates a variety of functions, such as copying, networkprinting (PC printing), scanning, faxing, and document server, into asingle unit. The image processing apparatus 1 is sometimes called a“multifunction device” or an “MFP”, for example.

The Web server machine 2 is an information processing device thatprovides a Web page to a Web browser of an information processing deviceconnected to the network 4 and to a Web browser of an informationprocessing device connected to the Internet in response to a requesttherefrom.

The user terminal 3 is an information processing device used by a userfor daily business. The user terminal 3 is, for example, a personalcomputer. The user can use the user terminal 3 to give the imageprocessing apparatus 1 a print job, and to operate the image processingapparatus 1 via the network 4.

The network 4 is a communication line for enabling communication betweeninformation processing devices connected thereto, namely, a so-calledLocal Area Network (LAN). The network 4 is sometimes connected to theInternet via a gateway, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration ofthe image processing apparatus 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 1 is configured of aCentral Processing Unit (CPU) 10 a, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 10 b, aRead Only Memory (ROM) 10 c, a display device 10 d, an input device 10e, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 10 f, a document reader unit 10 g, a printerunit 10 h, a FAX modem 10 i, a network Interface (I/F) 10 j, and so on.In addition to them, the image processing apparatus 1 is sometimesprovided with a control circuit for controlling operation timing of theindividual units.

The CPU 10 a executes operation processing using the RAM 10 b as a workarea based on programs and data stored in the ROM 10 c or the HDD 10 f,and a variety of data sets externally entered as required.

The display device 10 d is implemented by a liquid crystal display or aCRT display, and is operable to display a variety of screens for a user.Such screens are displayed on the display in accordance withinstructions from the CPU 10 a. The screens are, for example, a screenfor operation guidance, a screen for informing a user of a job executionstate, and a screen for the user to confirm data saved to the HDD 10 f.

The input device 10 e is provided with a numeric keypad and variousoperation buttons, and is operable to receive operation performed by auser. When the user operates the numeric keypad or the operationbuttons, a command corresponding to the user operation is issued to theCPU 10 a. For example, a command to execute a job is issued to the CPU10 a.

Both the display device 10 d and the input device 10 e may beimplemented by a single touch-sensitive panel.

The HDD 10 f is a non-volatile magnetic storage device for retainingdata stored therein even when no power is supplied. Instead of the HDD10 f, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory or a Non volatileRandom Access Memory (NVRAM) may be used.

The document reader unit 10 g is provided with a light source, an imagesensor, and so on. The document reader unit 10 g is a device thatoptically captures an image such as a character and a chart depicted onpaper to create image data thereof.

The printer unit 10 h is implemented by using an electrophotographicprint mechanism, an inkjet print mechanism, or a thermal transfer printmechanism. The printer unit 10 h serves to print an image onto paperbased on data saved to the HDD 10 f, data generated by the documentreader unit 10 g, data received from an information processing deviceconnected to the network 4, or the like.

The FAX modem 10 i serves to send and receive data with other FAXmachines via a public line based on a FAX protocol such as G3.

The network I/F 10 j serves to send and receive data with otherinformation processing devices according to Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) via the network 4. An example of thenetwork I/F 10 j is a Network Interface Card (NIC).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configurationof the image processing apparatus 1; FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams showingexamples of a job list JL; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of atime-out period determination table DT; FIGS. 6 and 8 are flowchartsdepicting an example of processes carried out when a Web page isdisplayed; and FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting an example of processingsteps carried out when the length of a time-out period is determined.

Referring to FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus 1 is configured offunctional portions such as a system control unit 11, a UI managementportion 12, a Web browser 13, a Web server 14, a CGI management portion15, a job queue management portion 16, a job processing portion 17, anda setting value management portion 18. The job processing portion 17 isconfigured of a scan job processing portion 17 a, a print job processingportion 17 b, a FAX reception job processing portion 17 c, and so on.The ROM 10 c or the HDD 10 f stores, therein, programs for implementingthe functions of the functional portions 11-18. The CPU 10 a executesthe programs appropriately.

The system control unit 11 centrally controls the operation of theindividual functional portions 12-18 and of the individual units 10 d-10j. In particular, according to this embodiment, the system control unit11 organizes, for each predetermined unit, processes by the individualfunctional portions 12-18 and manages the resultant as tasks to beexecuted by the image processing apparatus 1. Each of the tasks is givena task priority level indicating a priority level for execution. Forexample, the task priority is given, in order from the highest prioritylevel down, to a task corresponding to the job processing portion 17, atask corresponding to the Web browser 13, and a task corresponding tothe Web server 14.

The system control unit 11 executes generated tasks in accordance withthe task priority and also in parallel with one another. In short, thesystem control unit 11 implements multitasking. However, a task given alower task priority level is assigned a task execution time shorter thanthat assigned to a task given a higher task priority level.Alternatively, such a task given a lower task priority level is pendinguntil a task given a higher task priority level is completely executed.For example, while a task which corresponds to the job processingportion 17 and to which a higher task priority level is given isexecuted, a task which corresponds to the Web server 14 and to which alower task priority level is given is not processed sufficiently or notprocessed at all. Stated differently, once the image processingapparatus 1 is given a job, processing for executing the job takesprecedence over any other processing, resulting in a reduction inperformance of the Web server 14. In short, the processing power of theWeb server 14 depends not only on the load conditions thereof but alsoon the load conditions of the entire image processing apparatus 1,particularly, on the conditions of jobs in progress by the imageprocessing apparatus 1.

The system control unit 11 receives, through the input device 10 e, avariety of jobs such as a job to capture a document image (scan job), ajob to print an image onto paper (print job), and a job to capture adocument image to print the captured image (copy job). The systemcontrol unit 11 also receives, through the FAX modem 10 i, a job toreceive FAX data (FAX reception job). The system control unit 11 alsoreceives, through the network I/F 10 j, a print job.

The job queue management portion 16 registers jobs received by thesystem control unit 11 in the job list JL (see FIGS. 4A to 4C) in theorder that the jobs were received. In other words, the job queuemanagement portion 16 adds records to the job list JL.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the job list JL contains information such asa registration number JL1, a job type JL2, job detailed information JL3,and an execution state JL4. Such information is set in each registeredjob.

When the system control unit 11 receives a new job, the job queuemanagement portion 16 adds a new record for the new job to the job listJL, and sets appropriate values in the registration number JL1, the jobtype JL2, the job detailed information JL3, and the execution state JL4.The registration number JL1 is a value indicating the order in which thejob was registered. The job type JL2 is a value indicating the type ofthe job. The job detailed information JL3 is a value indicating thedetailed information of the job such as an execution mode of the job ora data size relating to the job. The execution state JL4 is a valueindicating that the job is in queue, i.e., the job is ready forexecution. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 4B and 4C, the value“READY” is set in the execution state JL4.

The job processing portion 17 executes jobs registered in the job listJL in order from one having the smallest number in the registrationnumber JL1, i.e., in the order that the jobs were registered in the joblist JL. At this time, the job processing portion 17 sometimes executesthe jobs in parallel with one another.

The scan job processing portion 17 a of the job processing portion 17executes a job having a value indicating a scan job in the job type JL2of the job list JL.

The print job processing portion 17 b of the job processing portion 17executes a job having a value indicating a print job in the job type JL2of the job list JL.

The FAX reception job processing portion 17 c of the job processingportion 17 executes a job having a value indicating a FAX reception jobin the job type JL2 of the job list JL.

As soon as the job processing portion 17 starts executing a job, the jobqueue management portion 16 sets, in the execution state JL4 of a recordcorresponding to the job, a value indicating that the job is inprogress, i.e., the value “RUN”, in examples of FIGS. 4A to 4C. As soonas the job processing portion 17 finishes executing the job completely,the job queue management portion 16 deletes the record corresponding tothe job from the job list JL, and advances, by one, each value set inthe registration number JL1 of the succeeding records.

As described above, the job queue management portion 16 performs, in thejob list JL, queue management of jobs to be executed by the imageprocessing apparatus 1.

FIG. 4A shows an example in which one job is registered in the job listJL and the job is in progress.

FIG. 4B shows an example in which two jobs are registered in the joblist JL, and the first-registered job is in progress and thesecond-registered job waits to be executed.

FIG. 4C shows an example in which five jobs are registered in the joblist JL and the first-registered and second-registered jobs are inprogress, and the third-registered through fifth-registered jobs wait tobe executed.

The system control unit 11 determines which screen is to be displayed onthe display device 10 d in accordance with a command given by the userthrough the input device 10 e or the like, and the operating conditionsof the image processing apparatus 1. The system control unit 11, then,instructs the UI management portion 12 to display the screen thusdetermined on the display device 10 d.

The UI management portion 12 manages the details of screens to bedisplayed on the display device 10 d. The UI management portion 12instructs the Web browser 13 to obtain a Web page corresponding to thescreen designated by the system control unit 11, and to display thedetails of the Web page obtained on the display device 10 d.

Referring to FIG. 6, when being instructed to display the Web page fromthe UI management portion 12, the Web browser 13 requests a Web server(the Web server 14 or an external Web server) to provide thecorresponding Web page (Step S202). Prior to this, the system controlunit 11 determines a time-out period ET that is a period during whichthe Web browser 13 can wait for a response to the request for a Web pagefrom a time when the Web browser 13 made the request (Step S201). Asdescribed later, the Web browser 13 stops waiting for the response at atime when the time-out period ET has passed since the Web browser 13made the request, and displays a Web page for informing the user of thetime-out error.

The system control unit 11 determines a time-out period ET based on thejob list JL (see FIGS. 4A to 4C) managed by the job queue managementportion 16, and the time-out period determination table DT (see FIG. 5)managed by the setting value management portion 18.

The setting value management portion 18 manages, in the HDD 10 f or thelike, the time-out period determination table DT shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the time-out period determination table DT containsa reference time-out period DT1 serving as the reference fordetermination of a time-out period ET. The reference time-out period DT1includes a standard time-out period dt11 that is a standard length oftime as the time-out period ET, and an allowable time-out period dt12that shows the maximum length of time as the time-out period ET. Thestandard time-out period dt11 and the allowable time-out period dt12 areassigned values individually.

The time-out period determination table DT also contains a job executionadditional time DT2 whose value is to be added to the value of thestandard time-out period dt11 depending on a load due to a job inprogress.

Referring to FIG. 5, the job execution additional time DT2 includes ascan job execution additional time dt21 for a scan job in progress, aprint job execution additional time dt22 for a print job in progress,and a FAX reception job execution additional time dt23 for a FAXreception job in progress. The scan job execution additional time dt21,the print job execution additional time dt22, and the FAX reception jobexecution additional time dt23 are assigned values individually.

The scan job execution additional time dt21 is classified into levelsbased on a scanning resolution of a document for a scan job, and alength of time is preset in each of the levels. The specific examples ofthe scan job execution additional time dt21 are as follows: The value“40 seconds” is preset for the scanning resolution equal to or greaterthan 400 dpi and smaller than 600 dpi; the value “100 seconds” is presetfor the scanning resolution equal to or greater than 600 dpi and smallerthan 1200 dpi; and the value “160 seconds” is preset for the scanningresolution equal to or greater than 1200 dpi. Since no value isregistered, as the scan job execution additional time dt21, for theresolution smaller than 400 dpi, the scan job execution additional timedt21 for that case is “zero seconds”.

The print job execution additional time dt22 is classified into levelsbased on a size and type of print data for a print job, and a length oftime is preset in each of the levels. The specific examples of the printjob execution additional time dt22 are as follows: The value “20seconds” is preset for the print data having a size equal to or greaterthan 10 MB (Mega Bytes) in total; and the value “20 seconds” is presetfor the print data whose type is image data. Since no value isregistered, as the print job execution additional time dt22, for theprint data having a size smaller than 10 MB and for the print data whosetype is different from image data, the print job execution additionaltime dt22 for these cases is “zero seconds” each.

Note that the case where the type of print data is image data includes:a case where print data contains parameters for high-resolution printingbecause a user designates a photo image print mode as a print mode; anda case where print data contains large-size data such as JointPhotographic Experts Group (JPEG) or Tagged Image File Format (TIFF).Printing based on such print data involves performing many processes forgenerating a bitmapped image. Thus, a print job in progress eventuallyimposes a large load on the image processing apparatus 1.

The FAX reception job execution additional time dt23 is classified intolevels based on a size of received data for a FAX reception job andreceivable sets of such data, and a length of time is preset in each ofthe levels. The specific examples of the FAX reception job executionadditional time dt23 are as follows: The value “20 seconds” is presetfor the received data having a size equal to or greater than 10 MB (MegaBytes) in total; and the value “40 seconds” is preset for a case whereat least two sets of received data are receivable at one time. Since novalue is registered, as the FAX reception job execution additional timedt23, for the received data having a size smaller than 10 MB (MegaBytes) in total and for a case where receivable sets of received dataare smaller than 2 sets, the FAX reception job execution additional timedt23 for such cases is “zero seconds” each.

The time-out period determination table DT also contains a job standbyadditional time DT3 whose value is to be added to the value of thestandard time-out period dt11 depending on a load due to a job inprogress.

Referring to FIG. 5, the job standby additional time DT3 includes a scanjob standby additional time dt31 for a scan job in queue, a print jobstandby additional time dt32 for a print job in queue, and a FAXreception job standby time dt33 for a FAX reception job in queue. Thescan job standby additional time dt31, the print job standby additionaltime dt32, and the FAX reception job standby additional time dt33 areassigned values individually.

The scan job standby additional time dt31, the print job standbyadditional time dt32, and the FAX reception job standby additional timedt33 are classified into levels as with the case of the scan jobexecution additional time dt21, the print job execution additional timedt22, and the FAX reception job execution additional time dt23,respectively. The scan job standby additional time dt31, the print jobstandby additional time dt32, and the FAX reception job standbyadditional time dt33 are assigned values individually.

The system control unit 11 decides a time-out period ET in a manner asshown in FIG. 7, and informs the Web browser 13 of the time-out periodET thus decided.

To be specific, the system control unit 11 determines whether or not aWeb server requested to send a Web page is the Web server 14 of theimage processing apparatus 1 (Step S301). The determination is madebased on, for example, an URL of the requested Web page.

If the Web server requested to send a Web page is different from the Webserver 14 of the image processing apparatus 1 (No in Step S301), thenthe standard time-out period dt11 registered in the time-out perioddetermination table DT is regarded as the time-out period ET (StepS302).

On the other hand, if the Web server requested to send a Web page is theWeb server 14 of the image processing apparatus 1 (Yes in Step S301),then the system control unit 11 determines whether or not the job listJL contains jobs therein (Step S303).

If the job list JL contains no jobs (No in Step S303), then the standardtime-out period dt11 registered in the time-out period determinationtable DT is regarded as the time-out period ET (Step S302).

If the job list JL contains jobs (Yes in Step S303), then the systemcontrol unit 11 determines whether or not the jobs include a job inprogress (Step S304). The determination is made by checking whether ornot the job list JL contains a job having a value indicative of beingexecuted in the execution state JL4, i.e., the value “RUN” in theexample of FIGS. 4A to 4C.

If the job list JL contains a job in progress (Yes in Step S304), thenthe system control unit 11 checks the details of the job against thedetails of the job execution additional time DT2 registered in thetime-out period determination table DT, thereby to calculate a totaladditional time AT1 based on job in progress (Step S305). If the joblist JL contains a plurality of jobs in progress, then values of the jobexecution additional time DT2 corresponding to the individual jobs areadded together, and the resultant is regarded as the total additionaltime AT1. If the job list JL contains no jobs in progress (No in StepS304), then the total additional time AT1 is determined to be “zeroseconds” (Step S306).

In the example of FIG. 4A, the job list JL contains a scan job as a jobin progress. Accordingly, the system control unit 11 determines whetheror not the details of the scan job correspond to any of the detailsregistered as the job execution additional time DT2 based on the settingdetails of the job detailed information JL3 of the scan job, andcalculates the total additional time AT1 based on job in progress. Whenthe scan job involves scanning a document image at a resolution of 500dpi, for example, the total additional time AT1 based on job in progressis determined to be “40 seconds”.

In the example of FIG. 4B, the job list JL contains, as a job inprogress, a scan job having a value of “1” in the registration numberJL1. Accordingly, the total additional time AT1 based on job in progressis calculated as with the case of FIG. 4A.

In the example of FIG. 4C, the job list JL contains, as jobs inprogress, a scan job and a print job having values of “1” and “2”respectively in the registration number JL1. Accordingly, the systemcontrol unit 11 determines whether or not the details of each of thescan job and the print job correspond to any of the details registeredas the job execution additional time DT2 based on the setting details ofthe job detailed information JL3 of each of the jobs, and calculates thetotal additional time AT1 based on job in progress. When the job havinga value of “1” in the registration number JL1 is a scan job involvingscanning a document image at a resolution of 500 dpi, and the job havinga value of “2” in the registration number JL1 is a print job involvingprint data whose total size is 20 MB, the total additional time AT1based on job in progress is determined to be “60 seconds (40 seconds+20seconds)”.

If the job list JL contains jobs (Yes in Step S303), then the systemcontrol unit 11 determines whether or not the jobs include a job inqueue (Step S307). The determination is made by checking whether or notthe job list JL contains a job having a value indicative of beingstandby state in the execution state JL4, i.e., the value “READY” in theexample of FIGS. 4B and 4C.

If the job list JL contains a job in queue (Yes in Step S307), then thesystem control unit 11 checks the details of the job against the detailsof the job standby additional time DT3 registered in the time-out perioddetermination table DT, thereby to calculate a total additional time AT2based on job in queue (Step S308). If the job list JL contains aplurality of jobs in queue, then values of the job standby additionaltime DT3 corresponding to the individual jobs are added together, andthe resultant is regarded as the total additional time AT2. If the joblist JL contains no jobs in queue (No in Step S307), then the totaladditional time AT2 is determined to be “zero seconds” (Step S309).

In the example of FIG. 4A, since the job list JL contains no jobs inqueue, the total additional time AT2 based on job in queue is determinedto be “zero seconds”.

In the example of FIG. 4B, the job list JL contains, as a job in queue,a print job having a value of “2” in the registration number JL1.Accordingly, the system control unit 11 determines whether or not thedetails of the print job correspond to any of the details registered asthe job standby additional time DT3 based on the setting details of thejob detailed information JL3 of the print job, and calculates the totaladditional time AT2 based on job in queue. When the print job involvesprint data whose size is 20 MB in total, for example, the totaladditional time AT2 based on job in queue is determined to be “20seconds”.

In the example of FIG. 4C, the job list JL contains, as jobs in queue, aFAX reception job, a scan job, and a print job having values of “3” to“5” respectively in the registration number JL1. Accordingly, the systemcontrol unit 11 determines whether or not the details of each of the FAXreception job, the scan job, and the print job correspond to any of thedetails registered as the job standby additional time DT3 based on thesetting details of the job detailed information JL3 of each of the jobs,and calculates the total additional time AT2 based on job in queue. Whenthe job having a value of “3” in the registration number JL1 is a FAXreception job involving received data having a total size of 20 MB, thejob having a value of “4” therein is a scan job involving scanning adocument image at a resolution of 500 dpi, and the job having a value of“5” therein is a print job involving print data having a total size of20 MB, the total additional time AT2 based on job in queue is determinedto be “80 seconds (20 seconds+40 seconds+20 seconds)”.

After the calculation of the total additional time AT1 based on job inprogress and the total additional time AT2 based on job in queue, thesystem control unit 11 adds the total additional time AT1 and the totaladditional time AT2 to the standard time-out period dt11 registered inthe time-out period determination table DT, and determines the resultantto be the time-out period ET (Step S310).

The system control unit 11, then, checks whether or not the time-outperiod ET thus determined is longer than the allowable time-out perioddt12 registered in the time-out period determination table DT (StepS311). If the time-out period ET is longer than the allowable time-outperiod dt12 (Yes in Step S311), then the system control unit 11 cancelsthe determination in Step S310 and regards the allowable time-out perioddt12 as the time-out period ET (Step S312).

Referring back to FIG. 6, when the system control unit 11 determines thetime-out period ET in the manner as shown in FIG. 7 (Step S201), the Webbrowser 13 requests the Web server 14 or an external server (e.g., a Webserver provided in the Web server machine 2) to provide a Web pagerelating to the instruction from the UI management portion 12 (StepS202). After making the request, the Web browser 13 waits for a responsefrom the Web server 14 or the external server until the time-out periodET has elapsed since the request was made. If the Web browser 13receives a response before the lapse of the time-out period ET (Yes inStep S203), then the display device 10 d is caused to display thedetails of the Web page provided by the Web server 14 or the externalserver (Step S204). On the other hand, if the Web browser 13 receives noresponse before the lapse of the time-out period ET (No in Step S203),then the display device 10 d is caused to display the details of a Webpage that is prepared in advance by the Web browser 13 and is to informa user of a time-out error (Step S205).

The Web server 14 provides a Web page prepared in advance in response toa request from the Web browser 13 and the external Web browser. The Webserver 14 provides, if necessary, a Web page dynamically created basedon a result obtained by executing a program managed by the CGImanagement portion 15.

The CGI management portion 15 manages a program executed for a casewhere the Web server 14 dynamically creates the web page.

As discussed above, in this embodiment, a time-out period ET of the Webbrowser 13 is determined taking account of load conditions associatedwith job execution, such as the number of jobs in progress and jobs inqueue in the image processing apparatus 1, job type, job execution mode,the size of data for a job. Thus, the time-out period ET of the Webbrowser 13 has an appropriate length of time depending on conditions ofthe load imposed on the entire image processing apparatus 1, so that agood user interface is provided.

The following arrangement is discussed in the foregoing embodiment. Ifthe determined time-out period ET is longer than the allowable time-outperiod dt12 (Yes in Step S311), then the system control unit 11 cancelsthe determination and regards the allowable time-out period dt12 as thetime-out period ET (Step S312). The Web browser 13, then, requests a Webpage from the Web server 14, and waits for a response therefrom untilthe allowable time-out period dt12 has passed (Step S203). Instead ofthis, however, the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 is possible.

To be specific, the system control unit 11 calculates a time-out periodET in a manner shown in Step S301 through Step S310 of FIG. 7 (StepS401). If the time-out period ET thus calculated is longer than theallowable time-out period dt12 (Yes in Step S402), then the systemcontrol unit 11 instructs the Web browser 13 to stop requesting a Webpage from the Web server 14. In accordance with the instructions, theWeb browser 13 stops requesting a Web page from the Web server 14 andcauses the display device 10 d to display (Step S406) the details of aWeb page for informing a user of an error.

According to the embodiment discussed above, the time-out perioddetermination table DT contains, as the job execution additional timeDT2 and the job execution additional time DT3, additional time each fora scan job, a print job, and a FAX reception job. The time-out perioddetermination table DT may further contain additional time for anotherjob. For example, the time-out period determination table DT may containjob execution additional time DT2 for a copy job and job executionadditional time DT3 for a copy job.

In the embodiment discussed above, the system control unit 11 calculatesthe total additional time AT1 based on job in progress, and the totaladditional time AT2 based on job in queue, and adds the total additionaltime AT1 and the job execution additional time DT2 to the standardtime-out period dt11, thereby to determine the time-out period ET,independently of the priority of tasks corresponding to the Web server14. Instead of this, however, the system control unit 11 may performthose processes taking account of the priority of tasks corresponding tothe Web server 14. For example, the system control unit 11 may beconfigured to perform those processes only when the priority of taskscorresponding to the Web server 14 is lower than the priority of taskscorresponding to the job processing portion 17.

The determination method of the time-out period ET, which is describedearlier, is applicable to the case where the Web server 14 is requestedto provide a Web page not only from the Web browser 13 of the imageprocessing apparatus 1 but also from an external Web browser (e.g., aWeb browser of the user terminal 3). In such a case, the imageprocessing apparatus 1 informs the external Web browser of thedetermined time-out period ET.

In the embodiments discussed above, the hardware configuration and thefunctional configuration of the image processing apparatus 1, and thelike may be altered as required in accordance with the subject matter ofthe present invention. Further, the content to be processed, theprocessing sequence, and the like of the image processing apparatus 1may be altered as required in accordance with the subject matter of thepresent invention.

While example embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that the present invention is notlimited thereto, and that various changes and modifications may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: anexecution portion configured to execute a job; a providing portionconfigured to provide a Web page in response to a request from a requestsource; a determination portion configured to determine a time-outperiod depending on conditions of a job that is being executed by theexecution portion and conditions of a job that waits to be executed bythe execution portion, the time-out period being a period during which aresponse from the providing portion to the request is acceptable; and amanagement portion configured to manage execution of a process by theexecution portion and a process by the providing portion in such amanner that the process by the execution portion is executed before theprocess by the providing portion.
 2. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the determination portion determines thatthe time-out period is a sum of standard time and additional time, thestandard time being time having a standard length as the time-outperiod, the additional time being time to be added to the standard timedepending on the conditions of the job that is being executed by theexecution portion and the conditions of the job that waits to beexecuted by the execution portion.
 3. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the determination portion determines thetime-out period in such a manner that the time-out period is shorterthan an allowable period of time having a maximum length allowable asthe time-out period.
 4. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein, if the time-out period calculated by the determinationportion is longer than an allowable period of time having a maximumlength allowable as the time-out period, the request source of therequest stops requesting the Web page from the providing portion.
 5. Amethod for controlling an image processing apparatus, the imageprocessing apparatus including an execution portion configured toexecute a job, and a providing portion configured to provide a Web pagein response to a request from a request source, the method causing theimage processing apparatus to perform processes comprising: a firstprocess for determining a time-out period depending on conditions of ajob that is being executed by the execution portion and conditions of ajob that waits to be executed by the execution portion, the time-outperiod being a period during which a response from the providing portionto the request is acceptable; and a second process for managingexecution of a process by the execution portion and a process by theproviding portion in such a manner that the process by the executionportion is executed before the process by the providing portion.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein the first process includesdetermining that the time-out period is a sum of standard time andadditional time, the standard time being time having a standard lengthas the time-out period, the additional time being time to be added tothe standard time depending on the conditions of the job that is beingexecuted by the execution portion and the conditions of the job thatwaits to be executed by the execution portion.
 7. The method accordingto claim 6, wherein the first process includes determining the time-outperiod in such a manner that the time-out period is shorter than anallowable period of time having a maximum length allowable as thetime-out period.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein, if thetime-out period calculated by the determination portion is longer thanan allowable period of time having a maximum length allowable as thetime-out period, the request source of the request stops requesting theWeb page from the providing portion.
 9. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing thereon a computer program usedfor controlling an image processing apparatus, the image processingapparatus including an execution portion configured to execute a job,and a providing portion configured to provide a Web page in response toa request from a request source, the computer program causing the imageprocessing apparatus to implement processes comprising: a first processfor determining a time-out period depending on conditions of a job thatis being executed by the execution portion and conditions of a job thatwaits to be executed by the execution portion, the time-out period beinga period during which a response from the providing portion to therequest is acceptable; and a second process for managing execution of aprocess by the execution portion and a process by the providing portionin such a manner that the process by the execution portion is executedbefore the process by the providing portion.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the firstprocess includes determining that the time-out period is a sum ofstandard time and additional time, the standard time being time having astandard length as the time-out period, the additional time being timeto be added to the standard time depending on the conditions of the jobthat is being executed by the execution portion and the conditions ofthe job that waits to be executed by the execution portion.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10,wherein the first process includes determining the time-out period insuch a manner that the time-out period is shorter than an allowableperiod of time having a maximum length allowable as the time-out period.12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according toclaim 10, wherein, if the time-out period calculated by thedetermination portion is longer than an allowable period of time havinga maximum length allowable as the time-out period, the request source ofthe request stops requesting the Web page from the providing portion.